9 Easy Summer Cooking Swaps from Giada De Laurentiis

Giada de Laurentiis is a wiz in the kitchen, so who better to turn to as the summer cooking season gets underway? The brand-new Food Network Star judge shared ten tips with SELF for entertaining all season long.

Giada de Laurentiis is a wiz in the kitchen, so who better to turn to as the summer cooking season gets underway? The brand-new Food Network Star judge shared ten tips with SELF for entertaining all season long.

De Laurentiis once told SELF, “Eat what’s in season. When you don’t, it doesn’t taste like anything, and it needs a load of fat or salt or sugar to taste good. A strawberry only tastes like a strawberry certain times of year.” It goes without saying that summer is one of the easiest times to eat healthy–there’s fresh fruit (love those strawberries), fresh produce and lots of barbecueing (that can be healthy, too)! So, with Giada’s blessing, eat up! Just follow her advice below so you can enjoy your meal without any post-cookout regrets.

1. Instead of sloppy joes and messy tacos, “serve small, bite-sized appetizers that are easy to eat, aren’t a mess to eat, and that will keep the portion size reasonable” like these low-calorie favorites hand-picked by SELF’s editors. “A good gauge is to think in terms of an appetizer-sized plate rather than dinner-sized. Then tell yourself that you’ll savor every bite.”

2. “Fresh herbs are great to add flavor to any dish – they’re a nice substitution for a fat or salt.

3. “Serve fresh fruits and raw vegetables” instead of can’t-stop-munching chips and crackers. “During the summer, produce has more flavor and you don’t need to use a lot of salt or any seasoning to doctor them up.”

4. “Use citrus in your dishes – it’s a fresh and healthy way to brighten the flavor of food.”

5. “Change up the location. I love having parties in my backyard, but it’s also fun to have smaller gatherings in my house sometimes around my coffee table. All you need is a few colorful pillows to sit on and it’s a whole new feel.”

6. “Olive oil is a must. Replace butter with the lighter alternative everywhere.”